Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis

Green plants are producers. This means that they can survive without

animals! They can make lots of organic chemicals from a few simple

inorganic chemicals. They need simple things like carbon dioxide and

water and can make complex things like sugar, starch, fat, and

proteins.

Plants get their nutrients from the environment. Carbon dioxide comes

from the air (unless they are aquatic plants, in which case they get

it from the water surrounding them). They get water from the soil.

They also need other inorganic nutrients like nitrate, sulphate and

phosphate. A few plants cannot get nitrate out of the soil so they

have to eat animals to get the nitrogen which they must have for

growth.

Animals are consumers; they cannot carry out photosynthesis. This

means that they have to eat other things to get the carbohydrates,

fats, proteins, vitamins and minerals which they need.

When plants are in the sunlight they can make a sugar called glucose.

This is slightly different from the sugar (sucrose) which you put into

your tea. Glucose contains three chemical elements:

* Carbon

* Hydrogen

* Oxygen

All the carbon needed for photosynthesis comes from carbon dioxide.

All the hydrogen comes from water.

When plants use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose there is a

lot of oxygen left over. Here is a word equation:

[IMAGE] Light

Carbon Dioxide + Water Glucose + Oxygen

Chlorophyll

Carbon dioxide and water are inorganic chemicals, whereas glucose is

an organic chemical. Plants need energy to convert carbon dioxide and

water into glucose; this energy comes from sunlight. Plants can...

... middle of paper ...

... also extract magnesium from the soil if

they are going to grow properly.

Nitrate, sulphate, phosphate and magnesium are called mineral salts.

Here is a summary of the most important information on photosynthesis:

Photosynthesis requires:

* carbon dioxide,

* water,

* light energy,

* chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis produces:

* glucose,

* waste oxygen.

Photosynthesis is the conversion of:

* light energy into,

* chemical energy.

Photosynthesis is essential for:

* growth.

Photosynthesis takes place in:

* leaves !!!!!

Photosynthesisis the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into a

sugar called glucose using sunlight energy. Oxygen is produced as a

waste product.

Chlorophyllis the green chemical needed by plants for this process.